Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable Inc. and Cox Communications Inc., the three largest cable operators, say no storm-based disruptions had been reported as of late morning Monday, but they warn that it is still early into the expected crisis. In anticipation of the storm’s effects, Time Warner Cable delayed its earnings announcement, previously set for Wednesday, untll next Monday, Nov. 5.

Most of the major TV and Internet providers who serve the East Coast have been preparing for Sandy since last week.

DirecTV, the second largest pay TV provider, has launched a 24-hour news channel that pulls together live broadcasts from New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore and Norfolk, Va. so the satellite operator’s subscribers can track Sandy’s movement.

DirecTV, which has launched similar channels in the past to track previous hurricanes including Irene and Katrina, is also providing emergency information such as potential evacuations and closures through the new channel.

Time Warner Cable, Comcast and Cox are keeping employees on standby to deploy into affected markets if needed. The companies are also readying backup generators in their main distribution centers in case of power outage.

John Wolfe, senior vice president and general manager of Cox’s New England region, said that he expects to see the worst effects over the next 9-12 hours. He expects severe winds in Connecticut and Rhode Island to cause power outages that will affect the network.

While Time Warner Cable has staffed its call centers to deal with higher-than-usual call volume, Comcast has left automated voicemails with customers’ up and down the East Coast, warning them about the storm.

The cable operators warn that most TV and Internet outages that come with natural disasters go hand-in-hand with power company outages. So if utility poles are down, for instance, cable workers have to wait until the electric company fixes the power line before they can repair the cable wiring.

“Customers sometimes don’t realize that we can’t get out and immediately begin restoration until after” the power company makes its repairs, Cox’s Mr. Wolfe said. Read More »